Ireland’s deputy premier has said he believes a Brexit deal could be reached by the end of November.
Simon Coveney said “a lot of progress” had been made by negotiating teams in recent weeks.
UK Minister for the Cabinet Office David Lidington said negotiators were “very close”, and that he hopes and expects that a deal will be secured in the next few weeks.
Very constructive meeting of the BIIGC today in Iveagh House. The issues around legacy, security co-operation, East-West matters and political stability were discussed. pic.twitter.com/mzdYR5Xadf
— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) November 2, 2018
The pair were speaking at a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Dublin.
On the same day, the UK’s Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab was tight lipped about how negotiations were going when he was questioned by the media during a visit to Belfast.
Mr Coveney said the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has shown “flexibility and imagination to overcome some of the political challenges that are clearly there”.
“I think a deal can be done, but I think it’s important that the commitments that have been made are followed through on in full,” he said.
“If that happens, I think it’s possible to ensure that we get a withdrawal agreement that can be sold on both sides of the Irish Sea.
“I think it is possible to get a deal in November.”
Mr Lidington said he believed they were “very close to resolving” the outstanding issues, and he reiterated the UK Government’s commitment “to getting over those final difficulties” in the Brexit negotiations as soon as possible.
“I cannot emphasise strongly enough that the Prime Minister feels absolutely committed to her pledge not to have under any circumstances a hard border on the island of Ireland,” Mr Lidington said.
Mr Coveney continued: “This border issue is complicated to resolve…but I think we’re very close to resolving it. I certainly hope we are.”
David Lidington replied by saying: “We’re certainly, as Simon said, very close to resolving it.”
In Belfast, Mr Raab pledged that his Government will not sign up to any deal which could threaten the constitutional integrity of the UK.
He visited two sea ports before meeting a number of local political parties.
Valuable day in #NorthernIreland visiting the border, @PortWarrenpoint, @LarneHarbour and meeting local businesses & political leaders from the main parties. I’m confident we can agree a Brexit deal that works for all communities here – that is our goal over the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/05IbkzoWUu
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) November 2, 2018
Mr Raab heard opposing views from the two biggest parties, the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein.
The DUP urged that there be no additional barriers between the Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK after Brexit.
However, Mr Raab insisted he is confident the Government can get a “good deal”.
“We have made it very clear we would never sign up to anything that would threaten the economic, the constitutional, let alone the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom,” he told the BBC.
“We are engaged in negotiations, I need to protect the integrity of those negotiations, but we are confident we can get a good deal, good for all corners of the United Kingdom and good for every community here in Northern Ireland.”
DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party wants a deal that is good for Northern Ireland, adding: “it can only be good for Northern Ireland if we remain a full part of the United Kingdom.”
“We have reminded him that he and his government last December signed up to that, understood that the north of Ireland is a particular scenario with a need for a bespoke and particular solution,” she said.
“We have told him that he and his government are acting in bad faith, that they have stepped back from the commitments that they made to protect the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts, to ensure no hardening of the border on our island and to ensure no loss of rights for our citizens.”
Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann expressed disappointment that Mr Raab had not stayed longer, pointing out such visits were particularly important in the absence of the Northern Ireland Executive to speak for the region.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long also pressed Mr Raab for a backstop plan.
Mr Raab started his day in Northern Ireland with a visit to Warrenpoint Port in Co Down.
He was criticised there for not meeting with public representatives and local people.
Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard said: “Dominic Raab is like a thief in the night coming in and out, not providing opportunity, not just me personally but the people I represent.”
Mr Raab also visited Newry Police Station and the port of Larne in Co Antrim.
